Teens Lead Ahead 2011

Stand Up Speak Up

Mini-Grants 2012

Round I of this year’s Stand Up Speak Up Mini-Grants have been awarded. Awarded communities from this first round are Juneau, Gustavus, Sitka and Bethel.

Mentorship Program — Juneau

Recipients: Lily Baastrup, Angelina Bigness, Elias Romanoff, Shaylynn Jerue, Corise Bean, Sarah Cerne, Keri Dixon & Ati Nasiah

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help promote respect and healthy lifestyles among Juneau youth.

Activities involved:

• Creating a mentorship program
• School presentations
• Team-building weekend

The project focuses on the Building a Peer Culture and Leading the Way aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Guerilla Marketing — Sitka

Recipients: Heidi Kritz, Nick Bouker, Nelson Kanuk, Tessa Baldwin, Vanessa Morales, Brain Sparks & Julia Smith

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help promote respect both within and across the high schools of Sitka.

Activities involved:

• Media campaign
• Coordinated week of social activities
• Outdoor leadership trip

The project focuses on the Keep Respect Going, Building a Peer Culture, and Leading the Way aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Teens Lead Ahead  — Bethel

Recipients: Annie Sam, KC D’Onfro & Elizabeth Stegeman

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help promote respect for self, others, environment and Elders.

Activities involved:

• Host a teen leadership camp with presentations and activities discussing
  • Healthy relationships
  • Suicide prevention
  • Cultural traditions

The project focuses on the Relationship Basics and Leading the Way aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Glacier Bay Kayak Trip — Gustavus/Juneau

Recipients: Kassandra Eyre, Geordy Ewing, Keri Dixon & Ati Nasiah

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help promote respect, teen leadership, and healthy relationships for Alaskan youth.

Activities involved:

• Glacier Bay Kayak Trip
• Implementing the REBOUND curriculum which promotes peer education, self-respect, and wilderness experiences.

The project focuses on the Keep Respect Going and Leading the Way aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Community Art Program — Bethel

Recipients: Annie Mae Lee, KC D’Onfro & Elizabeth Stegeman

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help provide Bethel community members with healthy ways to express emotions as well as create positive extracurricular activities.

Activities involved:

• Educational art sessions discussing
  • Culture
  • Healthy Coping
  • Color theory

The project focuses on the Leading the Way and Getting Help aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Wilderness Excursions — Bethel

Recipients: Yvonne Aloralrea, KC D’Onfro & Elizabeth Stegeman

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to help promote teen leadership and involvement in cultural activities in communities in the Bethel region.

Activities Involved:

• Subsistence focused hunting trips
• Educational sessions on culture and traditions

The project focuses on the Building a Peer Culture and Getting Help aspects of the Stand Up Speak Up campaign.

Interested in Leadership Training?

The Alaska Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLI) will be hosting its 15th annual Youth Community Leadership Training in Anchorage for youth in grades 8-12.  Training will  start on Monday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m. and go until 5:00 p.m. through Friday, March 16. It will cover several topics including goal setting, team building, project planning, decision making and more.

Students can apply by getting an application from their school guidance/career resource office, or have an application sent to them via email or mail. Applications are due February 29th. For  more information please visit  www.pyli.org or email alaskayouthasresources@alaska.net.

Interested in getting a $500 mini-grant to help fund it?

AASB/Alaska ICE wants to help!

The Association of Alaska School Boards/Alaska ICE wants to support healthy youth/adult relationships where young people feel valued & empowered and adults build assets to help young people thrive. Applications for mini-grants are January 31, 2012. Click here for more information.

Check out past mini-grant winners….

Glacier Bay Kayaking Trip:

Twenty teens from Southeast Alaska spent a week kayaking through Glacier Bay. This gave the teens the opportunity to build strong outdoor leadership skills, develop healthy relationships tools and gain inspiration and resources to promote wellness in their home communities.

Juneau Community Mural:

Youth from Juneau worked on a community mural to remind the everyone of what individuals are already doing to make Juneau a respectful place for all.

Mat-Su Students Choose Respect Poster Contest:

Youth members of the Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition designed a Choose Respect poster contest as a way to “engage youth in the campaign and to contribute positive social norms and peer influences”.

The PSA represents many voices and vocalizes issues that tribal youth across all regions identified as important to address in their communities. It was filmed on site during the NIYS at the Santa Fe Indian School. (Information taken from the United States Department of Justice).

Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau was present at the ceremony and was very impressed with the teachers and studenTs.  On Monday, November 14th, she honored the students and AWAIC again at the Anchorage School Board meeting. They shared their video with the school board, which will also air on the Anchorage  local school board cable channel! GO ROMIG MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!

Check out their video on http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VUDdB5wfk3U .

This year’s Mini-Grant Applications are available and due on January 15, 2012.

Check out past mini-grant winners….

Glacier Bay Kayaking Trip:

Twenty teens from Southeast Alaska spent a week kayaking through Glacier Bay.  This gave the teens the opportunity to build strong outdoor leadership skills, develop healthy relationships tools and gain inspiration and resources to promote wellness in their home communities.

Juneau Community Mural:

Youth from Juneau worked on a community mural to remind the everyone of what individuals are already doing to make Juneau a respectful place for all.

Mat-Su Students Choose Respect Poster Contest:

Youth members of the Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition designed a Choose Respect poster contest as a way to “engage youth in the campaign and to contribute positive social norms and peer influences”.

Application: http://alaskaice.org/2011/09/15/ylspfall11/
Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2011
Email: bsmith@aasb.org
Or mail to: Bridget Smith, Community Engagement Educator
Association of Alaska School Boards
1111 West 9th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
*Offered 3x a year; welcome to apply each cycle

Conference of Young Alaskans

The Conference of Young Alaskans is a gathering of 55 young Alaskans to discuss the future of the state.  Delegates must be between the ages of 16-25, be an Alaskan citizen and interested in the future of Alaska.

Applications are available at www.youngalaskans.org and are due Friday, September 30th at 5pm. COYA 2012 will take place in Juneau, January 4-7th.

If selected all costs are paid. Alaskans of all backgrounds and from all areas of the state will be selected. The process is an intensive 4 day experience, but it is very fun and rewarding.  Delegates are urged to put serious effort into the application as the pool of applicants always greatly exceeds the number of possible participants.  All qualified Alaskans are encouraged to apply.